On Tuesday June 6, the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the closure of all consulates general throughout the world, “ following the series of attacks perpetrated against diplomatic missions “. Since last week, Senegalese diplomatic representations have indeed been vandalized, such as the Senegalese consulate based in Paris.
The windows of the main door are broken. Slogans on the walls, which we guess are hostile to the government, have been hastily covered in black, if not erased. The entrance to the Consulate General of Senegal in Paris is more reminiscent of an abandoned building than a diplomatic representation.
A Senegalese national, met near the embassy, had an appointment to collect his passport and was to take the plane the next day. He leaves annoyed: I understand the Senegalese disarray, it is not forbidden to come and demonstrate. They could go to the edge of the embassy, but not ransack it. Those who wanted to renew their papers or transcribe [l’acte de naissance de] their children are screwed. »
” All this week we are closed »
According to the consulate, the establishment suffered on four occasions what it calls ” of attacks from the day of the conviction of opponent Ousmane Sonko in Dakar a week ago. Consul General Amadou Diallo considers the closure necessary, for fear “ of an escalation of violent actions “. “ It is a small group of about ten people claiming to be Pastef, Ousmane Sonko’s party, who wanted at all costs to ransack or in any case attack the personnel of our services abroad. All this week we are closed. And afterwards, adaptation measures will be taken because we have suffered day and night attacks. »
For his part, the deputy of the Senegalese in the diaspora and coordinator of the Pastef in France, Alioune Sall, rejects any involvement of the party and affirms “ do not condone this violence “while pointing out that” it’s like what’s happening in Senegal “. In Milan, another Senegalese consulate was targeted and equipment for making identity papers was destroyed there.
>> To read also: The French political class reacts to the violence in Senegal